Auto drivers fleece even transport staff

Chennai: Even a thin ray of hope of disciplining fleecing autorickshaw drivers appears to have faded now. Emboldened auto drivers are now overcharging passengers right under the nose of transport authorities, let alone in busy business districts like T Nagar. Worse, drivers do not spare even transport department officials. If conservative wisdom compels you to disbelieve, just approach any waiting autorickshaw outside or passing by the joint transport commissioner (south)’s  office near Ashok Pillar. “Meter! Not possible. Hop in if you agree or else leave the place,” is the customary reply one gets from almost all autos operated at the stands near the JTC office.

One cannot resist the temptation of appreciating the autorickshaw drivers for being equally rude to the JTC office staff. Many a transport official admitted to having been taken for a ride by auto drivers and said, “Yes. They fleece us too. I experienced it even last week. I insisted on flagging down the meter. The driver responded with a sarcastic smile and asked me to seek another auto. I regret to say this.

“Indeed, there is a flagrant violation. We can impound the vehicles. But, it is not helping,” an officer rued wondering how they could be disciplined if '500 was the maximum penalty that could be imposed on erring drivers.However, drivers like N. Chellamuthu of Ashok Nagar argue: “Fares were revised nearly two years ago, but fuel price has been hiked many times since then. How can we operate?” “Fuel price was hiked four times and reduced 11 times during the period. Did they reduce the fare accordingly?” officials wondered. The fares were fixed only in consultation with them, they said..